Sheep sector 'at a critical point' 

Gross margins on sheep farms fell by 14% while net margins fell by 81% to just €7 per ewe in 2022.

The family farm income on sheep farms dropped 21% in 2022, "a level of reduction the low-income, vulnerable sheep sector does not have the capacity to absorb", the IFA warned.

"Difficulties" in the sheep sector are increasing as factories are dropping prices again, the Irish Farmers' Association has warned.

IFA national sheep committee chairman Kevin Comiskey said that the sheep sector in Ireland is "at a critical point" with market prices failing to reflect the production cost increases farmers have had to endure over the past two years.